| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Pereira, M. F. N.
[1]
;
Fernandes, S. A. F.
[1]
;
Nascimento, A. R.
[1]
;
Siu, E. R.
[1]
;
Hess, R. A.
[2]
;
Oliveira, C. A.
[3]
;
Porto, C. S.
[1]
;
Lazari, M. F. M.
[1]
Total Authors: 8
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Sect Expt Endocrinol, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Illinois, Dept Comparat Biosci, Urbana, IL 61801 - USA
[3] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Dept Morphol, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | ANDROLOGY; v. 2, n. 4, p. 559-571, JUL 2014. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 8 |
| Abstract | |
The role of oestrogens in epididymal function is still unclear. Knockout of the oestrogen receptor ESR1 (Esr1-/-) or treatment with the anti-oestrogen Fulvestrant affect epididymal milieu and sperm motility. We investigated the effect of in vivo treatment of rats with Fulvestrant on: (i) expression of genes that may be important for the architecture and function of the epididymal epithelium: prominins 1 and 2, metalloproteinase 7, claudin 7, beta-catenin and cadherin 13, and (ii) levels of oestradiol and testosterone, and expression of oestrogen and androgen receptors, in the initial segment (IS), caput, corpus and cauda epididymis. Fulvestrant (i) reduced gene expression of prominin 1 (variant 1) in the caput, reduced prominin 1 protein content in the caput epididymis and in the efferent ductules, and increased the localization of prominin 1 in microvilli of the caput and corpus; (ii) reduced gene expression of prominin 2 in the corpus and cauda epididymis; (iii) increased the metalloproteinase 7 content in the apical region of principal cells from IS/caput; (iv) reduced in the corpus epididymis, but increased in the efferent ductules, the cadherin 13 mRNA level; (v) reduced testosterone but increased oestradiol levels in the corpus and cauda; (vi) increased the androgen receptor protein content in all regions of the epididymis, and the oestrogen receptor GPER in the corpus and cauda epididymis. In conclusion, treatment with Fulvestrant induced regional-specific changes in hormonal and steroid receptor content, and affected expression of proteins important for epithelial organization and absorption/secretion. The mechanisms of oestrogen action may differ among epididymal regions, which may contribute to determine region-specific sperm functions. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/56564-1 - Estrogen receptors: expression, regulation, signaling, and function in the male reproductive tract, breast, and brain |
| Grantee: | Catarina Segreti Porto |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |